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Snapshots for 4/9
There's no way that Don and I can cover all of the material we have for review in full reviews, so these capsule reviews will offer some brief comments on other recent releases.
ASTRO CITY: LOCAL HEROES #2
by Kurt Busiek & Brent Anderson (DC Comics/Homage imprint)
 Another solid issue of Astro City proves that the title is back and hasn't lost a bit of its luster, as Busiek explores the dynamic of the super-hero and his romantic interest during the Silver Age in a way that explores the cruelty that the characters were often treated with during that age. While it's easy enough to write off that writing to sexism and the times, however, Busiek goes a little deeper and presents a case where neither the hero concealing his identity nor the woman desperately trying to crack it are being deliberately cruel or untrusting toward the other. Though there's definitely a tragic element here, it's the tragedy of misunderstanding between two people, more related to the failures normal people could experience in love rather than the difficulties that super-hero elements and powers could cause. Busiek and Anderson deliver this message of doomed love with a bit of hope, however, with a bookend involving a new hero who has quite a personal interest in this story of lost love from the 1960s, and the result is the usual quality we've all come to associate with Astro City. 10/10
BLACK PANTHER #57
by J. Torres, Ryan Bodenheim & Walden Wong (Marvel Comics)
 They say you can't go home again, and I think that's the case with Black Panther. While Torres does a reasonable pastiche of Priest's style on Agent Ross and weaves an intriguing plotline around a corrupt African leader and a military coup, the constant reference's to Priest's first story come off as a little self-conscious, and there's little explanation for how a man like T'Challa could be such close friends with a monster like King Akaje, especially since Akaje's true colors are so obvious to anyone reading the story. It's not that the plot isn't interesting, or that Torres doesn't do a good job of laying everything out and building some interesting characters, especially the arrogant (with cause) Jamal, it's just that we've seen it before. The art by Bodenheim is newer, as the rookie penciller delivers a style that blends manga and animation influences into an effective and likable style, and I expect good things from him, and for that matter from everyone involved in the creation of this issue, I just don't think that a fill-in on a title which has always been driven by the style of its writer was the best choice. 6/10
BLOOD AND WATER #2
by Judd Winick & Tomm Coker (DC Comics/Vertigo imprint)
 The first issue was all about setting up the human side of Blood and Water, so the second issue naturally follows as the one with all the vampire stuff. And it's great. Winick doesn't shy away from the big questions, both moral and of a merely curious nature, that would come with a revelation that your friends are vampires, but neither does he make the whole thing all dreary and White Wolf. The sense of humor of Joshua and Nicky is a big part of it, but it also comes from Winick describing things in concrete terms, like the taste of the blood concoction, the real way that vampires live and eat and the little anecdote about fictional celebrities. I also like that amidst all the central story of one man being saved by his friends, there's an indication of a danger lurking out there, and indications that Adam's transformation may have more far-ranging implications, making him special as the protagonist. And I can't say enough about Coker's artwork, which is moody but not too dark, able to convey the humor, the horror and the trippiness as needed, with particularly strong work on the "acid trip" sequence that sort of closes out the book. 9/10
CAPTAIN AMERICA #12
by Chuck Austen, John Ney Rieber & Jae Lee (Marvel Comics/Marvel Knights imprint)
 I was a huge fan of the first issue of the new Captain America series, but if I could have seen where that direction would have taken the series, I can't imagine I would have seen so happy. Unclear storytelling, empty posturing and a complete lack of characterization for the lead character all make for a jumbled, unpleasant read in the first chapter of "Ice," and while I'm usually a fan of Jae Lee's artwork, this is about as mismatched as I've ever seen his work get. Austen and Ney Rieber (not sure who deserves the blame) don't establish the villain at all well, other than some vague hints about him being an ex-Nazi scientist, but Jae Lee's indistinct and difficult-to-read character portraits certainly don't help matters. This seems to be the origin story for the villain of the arc, but origin stories generally come with some exploration of motivation, personality or at least abilities, and there's none of that to be found here. Overall, the first issue of this story tells me next to nothing about the mystery meant to drive the plot, the characters who sit at the center of it or why I should care in the first place. It's an utter mess, and a total failure, and the character of Captain America certainly deserves better. 1/10
COURTNEY CRUMRIN & THE COVEN OF MYSTICS #4
by Ted Naifeh (Oni Press)
 Naifeh has definitely struck gold with Courtney Crumrin, as the second mini-series is every bit as good as the first, which was one of my favorite reads of last year. This dark fantasy comic has plenty to say about being true to yourself and doing the right thing despite societal pressures, but it does it with a somewhat dark and even tragic tone. While it's not as all-ages as I originally thought, it's just as compelling as I originally thought if not moreso, as Courtney is a smart and driven heroine with enough innocence and youth to be truly heartbroken when not everything works out for the best. Along with a vicious streak that makes those who are responsible for her loss of a fraction of her innocence pay for their crimes in a poetic justice sort of way. Naifeh's imaginative visuals are as important to the story as his writing, with a particularly good work on the harsh beauty of Skarrow's mother or the uncaring propriety of Hector and the rest of the coven speaking volumes about the characters. 10/10
FABLES #12
by Bill Willingham, Lan Medina & Craig Hamilton (DC Comics/Vertigo imprint)
 The original art team is back for this next arc of Fables, and since Willingham has already delivered a murder mystery and a story of political unrest, now he turns to another staple of crime fiction: the caper. This isn't about stealing money, however, but stealing information, and the stakes are high enough to pose a danger to the Fables community as a whole. Willingham deftly sets up the problem and why the solution is difficult, all the while revealing how the community has been threatened in the past and how they've dealt with it and giving more in-depth characterization on some of the stars of the story, including Bigby and Prince Charming. This is all carried off with phenomenal detail by Lan Medina, whose take on a snow-covered New York is every bit as interesting as the more fantastic elements of the Fables community. As always, Fables is funny and inventive, deserving of its breakout hit status and reputation. 10/10
GREEN ARROW #23
by Ben Raab & Charlie Adlard (DC Comics)
 The shift in Green Arrow from "outside" writers like filmmaker Kevin Smith and novelist Brad Meltzer to "insiders" Scott Beatty, Ben Raab and Judd Winick comes with a crossover with Green Lantern and a general sense that the book is going to stop being an event book and start being another DC Universe book. I know that's a weird description, but there's a sense that this story, while still entertaining, isn't quite as much an event as the past stories have been. That said, it's a fun little story teaming up Green Arrow and Green Lantern and playing off the notion that these two characters and those who currently wear the mantle have a different level of history, and I expect those who aren't great fans of Kyle Rayner will get a big kick out of the barroom brawl that ensues when Ollie and Kyle meet up. This is also the first issue of Green Arrow not to feature Phil Hester's artwork, but fortunately the artist on the book is instead Charlie Adlard, who does a terrific job, with the same level of expressive characters and great action storytelling as well. 7/10
UNCANNY X-MEN #421
by Chuck Austen, Ron Garney & Mark Morales (Marvel Comics)
 I gave up reading Uncanny X-Men during the "Unnatural Selection" not only because I wasn't a fan of Kia Asamiya's artwork but because I found the story to be either incomprehensible or, when I could understand it, silly. With Ron Garney returning for art chores, I thought I'd give "Rules of Engagement" a try, but it looks like Austen's take on the book is no more my cup of tea than Joe Casey's was. The characters have all developed some of the most bizarre and inconsistent soap opera personalities I've seen outside of the lengthy Lobdell run, with particularly poor development work on the Annie/Polaris/Havok relationship and the Angel/Husk relationship turning both of those into Rogue/Gambit levels of painful reading, and Juggernaut's quick conversion to more heroic ideals ringing false as well. It doesn't help that Garney's work here is sketchy and bland, nowhere near the level of his best work, or that he's still stuck with the horrid costume designs that Asamiya has saddled the team with. I don't know if it's because Austen is overwhelmed with so many writing projects at the same time or if the book just doesn't compare well to the more action-oriented Ultimate X-Men or the unusual but fascinating New X-Men, but at any rate, Uncanny X-Men is really looking like the red-headed stepchild of the X-Men line right now. 2/10
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